The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office has identified the person who died in a Tuesday evening pursuit which originated at Highway 903 and ended in Virginia as a 24-year-old Philadelphia man.

Steven Rhock, the man who died after striking a tree in Virginia had got into a dispute with his female traveling companion and left her at the Exxon convenience store off Highway 903 near Interstate 95.

Chief Deputy Scott Hall said around 5 p.m. Tuesday deputies responded to a report of a woman who was in distress and trying to escape from the man, who was later identified as Rhock.

Arriving deputies observed the woman was being threatened by Rhock, who fled from the store when detectives Travis Clark and Alex Wood approached the vehicle. The woman, also from the Philadelphia area, has since been reconnected with her family.

After fleeing, Rhock traveled on Highway 903 and was headed toward Highway 48 where on Old Halifax Road he struck a sheriff’s office patrol car.

From Highway 48 he traveled into Roanoke Rapids and while on Highway 158 he struck another sheriff’s office patrol vehicle.

Hall said both vehicles sustained damages but are repairable.

Rhock then got on I-95 and raced to the Virginia line where Virginia State Police troopers intercepted the pursuit.

Troopers used stop sticks near the 17 mile marker and at the 20 mile marker Rhock ran off the roadway and struck a tree.

Troopers pulled the man from the vehicle, which was engulfed in flames. Rhock was transported to a local hospital where he later died.

A press release by Virginia State Police says the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office notified them they were in pursuit of a stolen 2017 Honda Civic.